After careful consideration, it is with sincere regret that we announce that the St. Mark's Board of Directors has made the very difficult decision to close Obstetric Services and the Birthing Center on September 30, 2017. The unit will stop taking new patients at 7:00 a.m. on September 28, 2017.

This decision to close OB Services is based solely on the loss of OB program financial support that had been received for several years through the State's Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) program.

We sympathize with the expectant mothers in our community who were planning to give birth here at St. Mark's in the coming months.

The need for this change is unfortunate, yet the St. Mark's Board of Directors has a fiduciary responsibility for the health and well-being of our hospital. St. Mark's-like many other rural and community hospitals across the country-is forced to make difficult decisions like this for the greater good of our hospital.